NARAL to press Senate on abortion rights

A New York pro-choice group will launch a campaign calling for the state Senate to pass the Women’s Equality Act and urge New Yorkers to know their legislators’ positions on abortion rights.

In 2013, Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced the Women’s Equality Act during the State of the State. The Women’s Equality Act sought to end discrimination and inequality based on gender. It also sought to protect a woman’s right to choose, Gannett's Ashley Hupfl reports.

The legislation passed in the state Assembly, but it failed to pass in the state Senate. The Senate, controlled by a group of Republicans and Democrats, was unable to pass one of the 10 points of the agenda, which would strengthen abortion rights in New York.

“Until now, many senators may have thought their inaction on this issue could fly under the radar, or that their antipathy to reproductive rights was inconsequential,” Andrea Miller, president of NARAL Pro-Choice New York, said in a statement.

“But we’re now in an era of increased transparency in Albany. We’re putting the call out to the millions of pro-choice New Yorkers across the state to join us to shine a light on their senators’ positions and hold our elected officials accountable.”

The group on the website notes where each senator stands on the issue. Like this: